BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MALKERNS– The Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival has strengthened its commitment to regional creative collaboration after officially launching its 2026 festival in Mozambique, reaffirming its growing partnership with the country’s arts, culture and tourism sectors.
The launch, held at the Standard Bank Incubator Hub in Maputo on Tuesday, brought together government officials, artists, tourism stakeholders and business leaders ahead of the eighth edition of the festival, which will take place at House On Fire in Malkerns from August 1 to 2.
Speaking during the launch, Standard Bank Mozambique Director of Marketing and Brand Management Dayse Madeira Correia said investing in culture was also an investment in economic development.
“At Standard Bank, we believe that culture is also a driver of economic development. That is why we support initiatives that celebrate African identity, create opportunities for young people and strengthen the creative industries,” she said.
Representing Standard Bank Eswatini, Temaswati Dlamini said the festival had evolved from a national celebration into a continental platform that connects African creativity, cultures and opportunities across borders.
Luju Creative Director Jiggs Thorne said Mozambique had become the festival’s second-largest market, making it a key partner in expanding cultural exchange and regional development.
“There is a very clear purpose behind what we do. We are not simply entertainment organisers. We are committed to harnessing the transformative power of the arts and using it as a vehicle for growth and development,” he said.
The festival also announced that celebrated Mozambican Marrabenta star Neyma and the Ka-Tembe Connexion collaborative music project will form part of this year’s programme, while more Mozambican fashion and culinary representatives will be unveiled ahead of the event.
More than 10,000 festivalgoers from over 26 countries are expected to attend this year’s festival, which embraces the theme “A Return to the African Future.” The event will continue showcasing African food, fashion, music and entrepreneurship while creating opportunities for regional trade and creative businesses. In 2025 alone, Luju generated E2.7 million in sales for 103 SME traders, highlighting its growing contribution to Eswatini’s creative economy.
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(Courtesy Pic)
